by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will not be charged with any crime relating to a fight at a bar last month in St. Augustine, Fla.

Kasim Howard, a security guard at The Conch House, accused Jones-Drew of punching him and fleeing during a melee that occurred during a weekly Reggae Night at the popular waterfront restaurant.

Investigators from the St. Augustine Police Department and St. Johns County State Attorney's Office officially ruled Tuesday there was not sufficient evidence that Jones-Drew was involved and declined to charge him with simple battery.

"Based on the facts and the law the State cannot establish the charge beyond and to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt," assistant state attorney Christopher France said in a statementobtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Howard, 31, and his attorney, Gregory Anderson, had claimed there was video surveillance footage that incriminated the Jaguars running back. But that tape, obtained Tuesday by the Florida Times-Union, is inconclusive.

Anderson said his client "suffered a dislocated jaw and spinal injuries."

Jones-Drew's attorney, Hank Coxe, said in a letter to France that surveillance video does not show "anyone throwing a punch, except Mr. Howard."

Coxe also said in the letter that Jones-Drew remained across the street after the event and "no person took any effort to interview him or anyone with him about these events."

No compensation was offered to Howard on behalf of Jones-Drew to drop the case, Coxe said. "Such conduct is impermissible both legally and professionally in the State of Florida, and we will not engage in it," Coxe wrote.

"Naturally I am pleased with this result and look forward to focusing on football. My rehab is going well, and I'm anxious to join my teammates at the start of training camp," Jones-Drew said in a statement.

Jones-Drew is recovering from Lisfranc surgery in December. He recently started running full speed.